Envelope adapted to be routed to several destinations



April 18, 1961 ENVELOPE ADAPTED TO BE ROUTED TO SEVERAL DESTINATIONS Filed March 16, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Lennard P. Miner WLA AGE'ALT ENVELOPE ADAPTED TO BE ROUTED TO SEVERAL DESTINATIONS Leonard P Miner, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to David E. Zimmer, Bridgeport, Conn.

Filed Mar. 16,1959,-Ser. No; 799,547 a 3 Claims. Cl. 229-13 This invention relates to reusable envelopes of the type employed by business housesfor holding papers and the like, and more particularly to interofiice and similar envelopes whichare intended 'to .berouted to various people and destinations.

Heretofore .interofl ice business envelopes of the type adapted to be sent to'a number" of destinations have been generally constitutedof strong and durable paper such as kraft paperor the like, said envelopes having openings in their body portions to enable a user to ascertain the presence or absence of any contents, and

ited StatesPatent further having a number of address linesorblank spaces a on which the variousdestinations may be inscribed, this being done preferably in pencil. V

.After such an envelope has reached its first destination and is to be forwarded to a second person or'destination, the name of the first person or destination is either erased Orstmckthrough, so that the second person or destination'. may be set down or indicated as being the one next toreceiv'e the envelope. V I Since envelopes of this type are intended to be used a number of times, and since they represent a certain amount of cost and value, the names and destinations inscribed on the envelopes are generally erasedto prepare the envelope for subsequent use. While such procedure has been considered satisfactory it left something to be desired inasmuch as the envelopes would quickly begin to show signs of Wear and deterioration,

and further since the act of erasing or striking through the names caused the envelope tohave an untidy and unbusinesslikc appearance.

The present invention obviates the above disadvantages and drawbacks of prior interoflice, routing-type envelopes, andv one object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedenyelope of this type, wherein the names of persons and destinations .may be very easily and quickly erased or removed with a minimum oftime and ditnculty, thereby to facilitate and make more convenient the use of the envelope. v Y i i A further object of the invention-is 'to provide an improved interoffice routing-type envelope as above set forth, which will always be neat and businesslike in its appearance regardless of erasures or changes in names of the persons and destinations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved business envelope in accordance with the foregoing, wherein the direction-providing means may be so organized as to permit its quick and easy removal and replacement, thereby enabling the useful life of the envelope to beextended.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved business envelope as above characterized which is extremely simple in its construction and economicalto fabricate and produce.

.Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved business-type envelope ofthe type set forth, which is reliable .in its functioning and not likely to be easilyrendered inoperative or useless.

, 2,980,315 Patented Apr. 18, 19,61

its flap open, illustrating a modification of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary line 44 of Fig. 3. Y v

Fig. 5 is a back view of an envelopehaving its'flap open and made in accordance with the invention, illustrating another modification thereof.

sectional view, taken on'the Considering first the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the improved routing-type busi ness envelope shown therein comprises a pocket-like body portion 19 which is adapted to hold'papersand the like, in conjunction with a hinged flap .12 which is foldable against the body portion 10 for the purpose of retaining the papers therein in the usual manner.

The body portion 10 and hinged flap 12 may be formed from a single sheet of material as in the case of conventional envelopes, and the body portion. may have. a front panel 14 together with a plurality of roughly triangular-shaped rear panels 16,- 17 and 18, the rear panels being. secured together along their marginal portions'in the customary manner. i I Y v The envelope body portion 10 is provided with the usual perforations or through openings 20 to enable a user to readily determine if there are any contents in the envelopewithont opening the flap and actually peering into the body portion.

In accordance with the present invention, the envelope body portion 10 and flap 12 are provided with cooperable means by which directions for routing the envelope may be neatly provided at the back surface of the envelope, and whereby such directions may be easily and quickly eradicated or changed, all without adversely. fecting the appearance and usefulness of the envelope or adversely afiecting the useful life thereof.

Heretofore it has been the customary practice to prof vide on the front face or panel 'of the body portionof business envelopes a number of inscription lines or blanks adapted to be written on, to provide the directions for routing the envelope. I

Customarily these directions have been either struck through or else erased as with a rubber or other eraser, when they are superseded by other, different directions. The striking through of the original directions or the erasing of the same leavesthe envelope with an untidy or somewhat messy appearanceand often during the act of erasing usinga rubber or equivalent eraser the envelope becomes wrinkled and deteriorates at a much faster rate than if no erasing whatsoever were to be done.

In accordance with the present invention, the hinged flap 12 and body portion 10 of the envelope have; cooperable means for indicating directions, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the flap 12 is provided with a transparent window through which an underlying area of the body portion 10 may be viewed when the flap 12 is in the closed position of Fig. 1. .Further, the body portion 10 of the envelope-is provided with impression-able means which extends over the said underlying ,area and is adapted to have writing impressions. formed Eon; it, whereby the said" impressions may be viewed through the said window.

v In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, thesaid cooperable means on the flap and body portion 12 and 10 respec .seen 1n Fig; 1, the inscription J. A.-Smith .Room 7 when the p 12 Closed.

tively comprise recording and pigmented elements of the e type" used" in memoran dum pads popularly known as magic-erasing pads. u p wt d b p o ided w th? t p e t rlastw I c 22,1jwhereas the envelope body .portionrltl would befprovided' with anv impressionable .means in the form.

of a relatively stiif card-like member-24 having on its exposed surface a wax or wax-like composition of the typeadapted to adhere at concentrated pressure points to the undersurface ofthetransparent plastic 22 whenthe- Considering Fig. 2, the envelope and 24 becoming displaced from the pockets during the time that the envelope is closed." Further, a snug or fric closed position may comprise a nib orprojection 35', providedon a flatiarrn 36 extending from the pocket 31, and

plastic is written onby a suitable stylusor similar instrul23. has been written, as by the use .of a stylus, on the transparent window, and. the wax or-wax-likesub- M stance of the element 24 has adhered to the undersurface of the window'22 so as to bereadily visible from the .backfofthe envelope. r r 7 V I As is well understood, upon separationof the window 22 from the underlying waxcoated element 24, the writf-ing will disappear and by the ,presentinvention such separation is ettected by merely separating the flap 12' from theenyelope body portion 10 as by the act of opening the envelopeto remove its contents.

Further, .in' accordance with the present invention, co-' operable claspmeans are provided on the flap 12 and envelope body portion,1 0, to prevent inadvertent or accidental opening of the flap In Figs. 1 .and 2, such clasp means comprises atab 26 on the flap 12 and: a slit 27 provided in the panel 16 ofithe body, portion 10 for purpose of accommodating the tab as seen in Fig. .1.

f.Thps, after the desired papers )or other contents have been placed in the body portion 10 of the envelope; the

flap 12 isffolded down' and'the tab 26 engaged in the slit 27. i Thereafter, a. .suitable inscriptiori is written on the transparent window :22 by the use of the stylus as aforesaid, providing-the necessaryjdirectionsfor rout- .ing theenvelope. 'Upon the addressee receiving the envelope, the mere act ofopening the s'ame and-removing .thewntents will automatically 'erase" the inscription which has beenpreviously placed on the transparent window 22. Thereafter, thesaid addressee in making use of the envelope again, will merely repeat the above' described operation of placing the desired matt'er'in the bodyportion 10, closing and clasping the -flap12,- and may further comprise a second flat arm 38 provided on the pocket 30 and having a slot 39 formed with an enlarged central portion40 which latter is adapted to accommodate'and frictionallyseizethe nib of the arm 36 Another embodimentbf the invention is illustrated in Figs; 5 andi6. In this'form the envelope body 10b and has a transparent plastic window 22, through which the directions may be viewed. 1 r

In this form v0t theinvention,2the pocket 31b on the a body portion IObzcarries af1writing 'pad 24b consisting of a number of sheets of writing' paper secured or bound togetherr in padded .form. ;The pad 24b is intended to be. written 'on by a usual writing instrument such as a pencil or'pen, and when the routing directions are to be changed, theuppermost sheetof the pad 24b is stripped '30" or torn off, and {the new directions are inscribed onthe next sheet, and so on. 'When the flap 12b is closed, the plastic window 22 will protect the writing onthe-pad 24b, and as with the other forms of 'the invention, the

envelope will at all times retain its neat appearance, and will not be wrinklediorotherwisedeformedbyjan 'erasing procedure utilizing a rubber"pnequivalentf. device,

. since such procedure isjnotl required, i Instead, it is inscribing the. necessary directions on the transparent panel 22.

It will be understood from the foregoing that I have provided a novel and improved business envelope of, the

' type intended to be routed to anumberrof different people or destinations,uwherein the routing directions may be easily and quickly erased, preferably automatically a consequence of the act on the part of the recipient of the envelope, of opening the latter to remove the contents thereof. No erasing as bythe use of arubber or equivalent device is necessary at any time, and tacc'ordingly the neatness of appearance ofthe envelope maybe 7 always preserved. Moreover, there is no likelihoodof the envelope becoming wrinkled and useless as a consequence of erasingor eradicating the directionsrwhich are no longer required. Therefore, envelopes made in accordance with the invention as above described may have an. extended period of usefulness and will retain their original, neat appearance. a 1 a t 7 Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. As shown in these figures, the transparent window, 22 and the wax-coated element or card '24 are pockets being provided on the'envelope flap 12a and envelope body portion ,ltla. The pockets 30 and 31 may be constructed in any desired manner, as from I merely necessary for the user toremove or strip off the topused sheet from the pad 24b, and provide the new directions on the freshunderlying'sheet. fWhen the pad 24b is completely consumed, a new pad maybe readily substituted in the pocket 31b.

' It will now be understood from' the foregoing that, in

accordance with my invention I: have provided a novel, and improved interofiice routing-type-business. envelope wherein the routing directions maybe easily and quickly erased and replaced bynew directions while the envelope at all times retains its original, appearance. In theforms of Figs. '1-4, the mere actof opening the'envelope and removing the contents aut omatic :ally erases the inscription, whereas in the form' of Fig.5, the user .need merely I remove the uppermost sheet ofthe pad 24b each time, The present improved envelope is simple in its constructron and may bereadily economically fabricated in quantity.

may be'used without others.

Variations and modifications maybe made within the scope of the claims, and portions of Jtheimprovements i l'claimz' 1 1 a ;1. An envelope of thetyp'e'intended to be routed to various people, said' envelope having a pocket-like body portion adapted to hold papers and the like, and having a hinged flap foldable againstthe body portion; and a pair carried by flat pockets 30 and 31 respectively, the said of cooperable recording and pigmented elements on the said flap and body portion respectively, providing a selferasing writing means onwhich writing may be produced and retained while the flap is disposed against the'body portion, said writing being automatically erased upon separation of the flap from the'body portion,said hinged flap and'body portion respectively having pockets holding the said cooperable'elements to enable the latter to. be easily and quickly removed and replaced. I T r 2. An envelope of'the type intende d to be routed to 5 various people, said envelope havinga pocket-like body portion adapted to hold papers'and the ;like, and having a hinged fiap foldable against the body portion; and a pair of cooperable recording and pigmented elements on the said flap and body portion rsepectively, providing a self-erasing writing means on which writing may be produced and retained while the flap is disposed against the body portion, said writing being automatically erased upon separation of the flap from the body portion, the cooperable element carried by the fiap comprising a sheet of transparent plastic, and the cooperable element carried by the body portion comprising a member having a wax'like coating arranged to adhere to the underside of the plastic sheet in the form of a writing impression when the plastic sheet is written on.

3. An envelope of the type intended to be routed to various people, said envelope having a pocket-like body portion adapted to hold papers and the like, and having a hinged fiap foldable against the body portion; a pair of cooperable recording and pigmented elements on said flap and body portion respectively, providing a self- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 827,208 Boston July 31, 1906 1,827,468 Guina Oct. 13, 1931 2,789,373 Frankl Apr. 23, 1957 2,879,608 Watkins Mar. 31, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 332,399 Great Britain July 24, 1930 

